Capitol to the Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, Jan. 16

 

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Fla. Regulator Suspends Allstate Over Subpoena

A hearing probing the background of Allstate’s Florida property insurance rate hike requests was abruptly halted yesterday by the state insurance commissioner, who said the company failed to provide the information he wanted.

 

What’s next for Allstate?

Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty is expected to say today which of several options he’ll pursue: fining Allstate each day it fails to produce records, taking action against the companies’ directors and officers or suspending or revoking the companies’ licenses.

 

Gelber Wants House To Make Insurers’ Swear-in

House Minority Leader Dan Gelber took a swipe Tuesday at Republican House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami for staying on the sidelines as the state Senate, backed by Gov. Charlie Crist, grill insurance executives about Florida’s still-high property rates.

 

Sink calls for state fund inquiry

The CFO urges legislators to look into SBA actions

Frustrated that an outside audit of Florida’s State Board of Administration will take too long, state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink on Tuesday asked the Legislature to investigate the troubled agency.

 

Florida ups ante by $100,000 to lure next investment leader

The next head of the agency that invests state and local government money in Florida will earn $250,000 to $350,000 a year, far more than past directors, the agency’s trustees decided Tuesday.

 

Term-limited Sen. Geller eyes Broward Commission

State Senate Minority Leader Steve Geller announced Tuesday that he plans to run for the Broward County Commission in District 6 after he leaves the Legislature this year.

 

EDITORIAL: Talk of the bay: No one spared in critique of insurance mess

Say what you will about business lobbyist Barney Bishop’s politics, but at least he doesn’t mince words.

 

Florida Homeowner Insurance Companies Continue to Leave the State

Home Insurance Buyers Guide, LLC today released an update on the availability of homeowners insurance in Florida.

 

Campbell to run against Atwater for senate seat

Former state senator Skip Campbell, a Democrat, has decided to run against incumbent Sen. Jeff Atwater, a North Palm Beach Republican who is slated to become the next senate president.

 

Numerous candidates seek to fill the Florida House seat vacated by Bob Allen

The term in office might be short, but the list of candidates certainly isn’t.

 

Buried Bombs Could Cause Fla. Homeowners to Lose Insurance

Hundreds of people who unwittingly bought homes in Orlando, Fla., near a World War II-era bombing range are suing after learning they could lose their insurance.

 

Florida warns of wildfire threat as drought persists

State tells homeowners, officials they should be ready for worst
A harsh drought has put Florida on track for yet another explosive outbreak of wildfires in the coming months, state officials warned Tuesday.

 

28 Dade political leaders on pro-slots list

The political committee promoting Miami-Dade County’s slot machine referendum released a list Monday of prominent backers.

 

Local lawmakers split on tax fix

Floridians voting on a constitutional amendment this month will determine if a property-tax fix will be on the Legislature’s agenda, two lawmakers said Tuesday.

 

Frank, Bachus, Dodd, Shelby Letter on House-Senate Farm Bill Conference

Committee Chairmen and Ranking Members Send Letter Regarding the Possible Expansion of the Farm Credit System’s Lending Authority

 

Big business aids Crist on tax cut vote

Gov. Charlie Crist hits the road Wednesday to push his property tax amendment with the help of some of the state’s largest industries that have a stake in earning the governor’s favor in the months ahead.

 

Rubio pitches tax relief at Pensacola meeting

Even if voters approve property tax relief later this month, House Speaker Marco Rubio says more is needed.

 

Fla. denied access to Foley computers

The state’s top law enforcement official was denied again Tuesday in his quest for access to former Rep. Mark Foley’s computers in his probe of electronic messages to congressional pages.

 

Study: Fighting gangs requires funding

Strengthening criminal statutes and eliminating loopholes.

 

Retaining companies

Business climate needs boost

When the parent company of boatbuilder Wellcraft Marine announced it will close its Manatee County plant and shift production out of state, the blame game started and tough questions arose.

 

Supreme Court Ruling Is Relief To D&O Insurers

The Supreme Court yesterday issued a decision that places restrictions on securities lawsuits, an action welcomed by insurers who provide directors and officers liability coverage.

 

Citigroup loses $10 billion

Jobs, dividend slashed after worst quarter ever

Bad bets on mortgages led to a $10 billion loss for Citigroup Inc. in the final quarter of last year, the largest in its 196-year history.

 

Ferguson Wanted AIG Deal Kept Quiet, Witness Says

A government witness in the trial of five insurance executives accused of illegal moves to improve American International Group’s financial picture said today that one of them had advised him to take steps to limit who knew about their activity.

 

Ruling Favors Accused Insurers: U.S. Judge Dismisses Some Claims In Case Alleging Steering Customers

A New Jersey federal judge has dismissed another major chunk of a nationwide case that accused insurers, including The Hartford and CIGNA, of conspiring with brokers to steer customers in return for secret kickbacks.

 

More Visitors Check NAIC Web Site

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Kansas City, Mo., announced that its Web site received more than 3.5 million visits in 2007, tripling the previous year’s total.

 

LIFE Seeks More Great Stories

An insurance education group is adding health insurance and critical illness insurance to the list of life-health products that it is trying to showcase through a national consumer education effort.

 

More employers offering animal insurance

At a time when employers are scaling back on costly health benefits, pet insurance is gaining popularity as an employee benefit.

 

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